Lochee United 1 Kirriemuir Thistle 1

Kirriemuir Thistle deservedly took a share of the points in this Thorntons Property League Cup section match with a battling display at Thomson Park.

Despite undergoing constant pressure in the second half the Angus side held out due to some excellent goalkeeping and some stout defending.

Having conceded 17 goals without reply to Lochee in three games this season, Kirrie weren’t expected to give the Bluebells too much trouble, but this was a different Thistle from these previous games.

They shocked the home side on seven minutes with the opening goal. A misplaced pass saw Dale Reid pick up the ball on the halfway line and burst through the exposed Lochee defence. REID outpaced Garry Kenneth and lofted the ball over the advancing Mark Fotheringham in the Lochee goal.

Kenneth appeared to pull a hamstring in the chase and had to be replaced by Dougie Cameron.

Reid could have made it 2-0 a couple of minutes later but the lively Kirrie forward shot wide.

Lochee had a great chance for an equaliser when a Jamie Reid through ball found Scott McComiskie in the box but the striker was crowded out before he could shoot.

McComiskie had another opportunity just before half time but his first touch took him wide and he shot across the face of Mac Whyte’s goal.

If Whyte didn’t have a lot to do in the first half he was to earn his keep in the second. His first save was from a Ross McDonald shot from a tight angle which he managed to push away.

Then he tipped a powerful Reece Ritchie shot over the bar as Lochee pressure mounted.

The Bluebells finally broke down the Kirrie rearguard on 64 minutes. Danny Cavanagh had looked the most likely to score and when Whyte parried the midfielder’s shot, Grant LAWSON was there to drive the ball home from close range.

Kirrie were relying on breakaways upfield at this stage and, from a rare corner kick, substitute Stuart McKenna headed wide.

Whyte was the Kirrie hero again as he brought off two great saves from Cavanagh in the dying minutes of the game.

So Lochee United’s midweek maladies continue with these dropped points costing them dearly in their League Cup section.

Lochee United: Fotheringham, McWalter, McNally, Kenneth (Cameron 10), McDonald, Davie, Ritchie, Lawson, Cavanagh, Reid, McComiskie.

Kirriemuir Thistle: Whyte, Grant, McNaughton, Bews, McVicar, Kerrigan (Thomson 86), Fairweather, Winter, Reid, Cormack, A Kettles (McKenna 46).

Reporter: Jim Davie